The
fact that Newcastle’s victory was not confirmed until the fourth minute
of added time says everything about their own profligate finishing and
West Ham’s frenzied yet unavailing efforts to bridge the yawning gap in
ability.

The ferocity
of those efforts was the reason why the reaction of the home fans was
decently restrained. Of late, Upton Park has been resounding to a
mixture of Bubbles and boos but, while the fans cursed the ineptitude,
they endorsed the spirit.

When they reflected on the fifth Premier
League defeat in six games, they will surely have recognised that spirit
alone will not keep them afloat. They are now in the relegation zone
once again and escape will require a genuine transformation.

Newcastle
came into the match with problems of their own, having lost their last
four matches in all competitions. Yet their first-half performance
yielded not a hint of insecurity.

At times, their imagination was
sublime, their accuracy a thing of wonder. Inspired by the wonderfully
influential Cabaye, given security by Cheick Tiote and point by Loic
Remy, they played their football in beguiling triangles; flitting into
telling space, working the ball, reducing West Ham to a bewildered
scamper.

Had Remy taken the simplest of chances in the eighth minute,
they would have been given the start their superiority deserved. But
the goal they scored in 15 minutes said everything about their football.
Yoan Gouffran advanced smoothly, Cabaye found himself space in the area
and nobody offered a serious challenge as he daintily adjusted his feet
before passing the chance inside the post. It was almost contemptuous
in its calculation, a man conducting a tutorial.

By now, Newcastle
were simply passing West Ham to pieces and, in 23 minutes, Cabaye
provided Moussa Sissoko with the pass which should have brought reward.
Instead, the ball died against the keeper Adrian and they were forced to
wait for a further nine minutes before an air of reality was restored
to the situation.

Once again, the goal was almost too simple, with
more deft passing allowing Sissoko to strike a cross from the right.
Remy was allowed absurd time to collect, control and nudge in the
scoring shot. And the displeasure of the fans started to seethe from
the stands named after Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking, the ancient
gods of Upton Park.

Pardew was preparing the easiest half-time
oration he would ever have given, while Sam Allardyce was wearing that
anguished expression last seen on the face of the late Les Dawson when a
joke misfired. But a goal out of the claret-and-blue arrived in the
second minute of added time and suddenly the match was intriguingly
alive.

Own goal: Newcastle's Mike Williamson deflected ball into the net under pressure from Carlton Cole

Hope: Mike Williamson's own goal gave West Ham a lifeline just before half-time

Razvan Rat battered another ball hopefully high into the box
and Carlton Cole gave chase. Mike Williamson opposed the surge with
muscular intent, but the ball came loose and bobbled over the line off
Williamson’s body. ‘We’d played so well,’ said Pardew. ‘To concede then
was really bad.’

The upshot was that West Ham began to believe they
could rise above their patent limitations. They sent on Ravel Morrison
for Jack Collison at the start of the second half and began to ask
questions with the urgency of their approach.

Had they found the goal
to complement their effort, then anything might have happened. But the
calamity of the 55th minute was to prove costly. Matt Taylor started the
move deep on the right, surged forward for the return, played a perfect
low, curling cross and Carlton Cole ran in to make the worst miss of
the match — possibly of the month.

Missed out: West Ham's Andy Carroll wasted a great chance to score equaliser

Stunner: West Ham keeper Adrian is beaten by Cabaye's free kick

Boost: Newcastle manager Alan Pardew saw his side end three-match losing streak in the league

Seven minutes later, Allardyce
reached for his nuclear option and Andy Carroll came bustling off the
bench. In less stressful times, he would not be close to the first team
after his protracted absence, but on he came to bump into a few people,
win a few headers and miss a chance which was almost as easy as Cole’s
had been.

He also conceded the clumsy free-kick which allowed Cabaye
to end the affair. Only a desperate manager could consider using him,
but Allardyce’s desperation is now obvious.

He recited the now
familiar injury list, bemoaned his failure to sign players in the window
and informed us that ‘it’s not about perfromanes any more, it’s about
results’.

The idea that West Ham’s game has ever been about
‘performances’ was a novel one. But at least he was right about those
results. Their need is more pressing than ever.